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Latest Marijuana Lie: Legalization Leads To Drug-Sniffing Dogs Being Euthanized

Add this tall tale to the endless list of reefer madness fibs: Marijuana legalization will force law enforcement agencies to euthanize drug-sniffing dogs because they won’t have jobs.

The latest tidbit of disinformation comes from The Pantagraph, an Illinois news outlet. In a story published earlier this week, the Pantagraph reported:

If Illinois legalizes marijuana for recreational use, law enforcement officials fear job losses for hundreds of officers — specifically, the four-legged kind.

Police agencies spend thousands of dollars and months of training to teach dogs how to sniff out and alert officers to the presence of marijuana, heroin, cocaine and other drugs. If pot use becomes legal, the dogs would likely either have to be retrained — which some handlers say is impossible or impractical — or retired.

So far, not so alarming. Retiring a dog is a lot better than killing one. But later in the story, we get this nugget from Chad Larner, training director of the K-9 Training Academy in Macon County. According to Larner, retraining dogs would amount to “extreme abuse” to change their mindset. K-9s are rewarded for successfully alerting to the presence of narcotics, and they continue to train regularly with their handlers for a suggested minimum of 16 hours a month.

Because many K-9s are trained not to be social so their work won’t be affected, Larner said a number of dogs would likely have to be euthanized.

Dan Linn, executive director of the marijuana advocacy group Illinois NORML, called the idea a “red herring.”

“The idea that legalizing for adults to have an ounce on them will equal … all these dogs being euthanized, that seems kind of ridiculous and hyperbolic,” he said.

Illinois is considering a vote making it the 10th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

“The biggest thing for law enforcement is, you’re going to have to replace all of your dogs,” said Macon County Sheriff Howard Buffett, the son of billionaire Warren Buffett and whose private foundation paid $2.2 million in 2016 to support K-9 units in 33 counties across Illinois. “So to me, it’s a giant step forward for drug dealers, and it’s a giant step backwards for law enforcement and the residents of the community.”

How Willie Nelson Got Woody Harrelson Smoking Marijuana Again

Woody Harrelson, one of Hollywood’s most legendary cannabis consumers, went on a much-talked-about break from the herb. But after two years of abstaining, Harrelson is smoking again. And he’s blaming it all on Willie Nelson.

Harrelson made an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this week where he told the tale about how Nelson finally enticed him to toke again. “I quit for almost two years. No smoking, no vaping,” he told Ellen DeGeneres. “Every once in a while you’re going to have something edible. Let’s be real, I’m not a nun.”

According to Harrelson, it was after a winning a huge pot during a regular poker game that Nelson got him. “I was in a celebratory mood and he hands me that [vape] pen and I just snatched and it was like ‘ah, f— it,’ ” he said. “I take a big draw of it and he says ‘Welcome home, son.’”

It wasn’t the first time Nelson had tempted Harrelson with marijuana during his two-year break. “He was never comfortable with me quitting, it just bothered him,” Harrelson said. “I would always say, ‘Willie you know I’m not smoking,’ ” he continued. “He would always do the same thing like he was hearing it for the first time, ‘Oh really? Sorry!’ This happened like 500 times.”

Last year, in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Harrelson talked about his dilemma with Nelson, saying he tried to hide his abstinence from Nelson for a while. “At first, I’m like pretending [to smoke a joint]. I’m just holding it because I don’t want him to know and then finally I’m like, ‘Willie, I quit.’ ”

It just goes to prove: Even Oscar-nominated actors can fall to peer pressure every now and then.

Meghan Markle Is Now A Wax Figure And…Wow

Is this going to be her “something new” when she walks down the aisle? Meghan Markle will now live forever as a was figure at the legendary Madame Tussauds in London. And oddly enough, her flawless skin looks exactly the same.

Wax Markle has been placed next to Wax Harry, whose likeness was embodied in honor of his 30th birthday in 2014.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bii9DmDALlt

If you’re a true Markle savant, you’ll recognize that green dress from her engagement photos as well as the first televised interview she did after it was announced she’d be marrying Prince Harry:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bik779OnbrK/?tagged=meghanmarkle

Says Tussauds general manager Edward Fuller:

Excitement ahead of the royal wedding is reaching fever pitch and we have been inundated with questions about when people can finally meet ‘Their Royal Likenesses’.

There is a lot of love out there for Meghan and Harry and we’re following their lead by inviting the great British public to join the couple in their wedding celebrations here at Madame Tussauds London.

The Markle exhibit doesn’t actually debut at the museum until the eve of her wedding, May 18. Tickets start at $39 unless your name is Meghan or Harry, in which you get free entry. No joke.

The NYC offshoot of Tussauds will debut their own Markle exhibit as well. According to The Telegraph, the Times Square’s version of Markle will strike a different pose and wear an outfit designed by British label Self-Portrait.

Reviewer Tests Male Lovemaking Doll

Sex dolls are all the rage now, but this market has always been predominantly populated by female dolls. You could argue that this is due to misogyny, but in a way it also makes kind of sense. Male dolls need to be equipped with a member, and that’s an extra complication in terms of design and functionality. Here is some feedback from a reviewer tests lovemaking doll.

Venus O’Hara is a sex toy reviewer, which means that there’s an actual paying job for people who masturbate and have orgasms all day long. There truly is room for everything in the world. Anyways, O’Hara was one of the first to review “Steven”, one of the first male sex dolls. The evening wasn’t as fun as she might have expected.

Related Story: 3 Questions Never To Ask On A First Date

She wrote about her experience with Steven in The Mirror, describing how she tested the doll for the BBC documentary Sex Robots and Us. O’Hara expresses that sex dolls are very different than sex toys because they act as human replacements instead of tools for sexual enhancement.

Steven was large, heavy, and she had to assemble him — a process she describes as  the “weirdest unboxing ever.” When it comes to the penis, it was detachable and replaceable, meant to accommodate the dildo of the users’ preference. O’Hara claims that the penis that was originally attached to Steven was far too large for her liking. More isn’t always better, you guys.

Related Story: Inventor Of Sex Doll Says It’s Been Great For His Marriage

After bumping up and down on top of the doll for a few minutes, O’Hara claims that having sex with the doll was just like “having sex with someone who’s not into you,” and that when she finally climaxed she was happy because the whole creepy experience was over. It wasn’t the most positive of reviews for male sex dolls, but she believes that there is still room for improvement.

You can check out the documentary, Sex Robots and Us below:

Why Hollywood And Marijuana Maintain A Stunted Flirtation

We’re four months into legal recreational marijuana in California and we’ve already seen a large ripple effect through the state, including expunging people’s marijuana convictions, exploring marijuana banks and lounges, and celebrities touting its benefits. But we’ve also seen two-thirds of California cities continue to ban the drug, creating so-called “marijuana deserts,” while previous ghost towns embrace cannabis for their own revival.

But how has Hollywood, one of California’s most venerable institutions, responded to the movement? Well, we’re seeing promotional tie-ins for movies with a possible marijuana link. There was Super Troopers 2, which premiered on 4/20. Green Street Agency, as The Hollywood Reporter revealed, hosted “a crowd of entrepreneurs [as they] watched a demo of a joint-rolling robot named Otto before heading to a screening” of the movie. Participants were also offered $4.20 discounts from Lyft and Fox Searchlight and subject to a mocking PSA advising, “Don’t smoke and drive.”

But as a collective, Hollywood hasn’t totally embraced marijuana. Stars remain at a distance from promoting any marijuana product and brand, as stigmas still surround cannabis.

Via The Hollywood Reporter:

Aside from high heavyweights like Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson and Whoopi Goldberg, who have been in the business of bud for a while, Hollywood has largely stayed away. MedMen is still struggling to sign an A-lister to front its growing national chain of dispensaries, while digital platform 420TV — founded by ex-WME agent Alex Nahai with an MTV DJ Quddus-hosted show and a comedy by former Simpsons animator David Silverman — continues searching for advertisers to sponsor it. “We’re a long way from mainstream star power marketing efforts,” says industry analyst Thomas Adams, noting that state-by-state legalization prevents interstate commerce and makes brand building difficult.

Some believe the movements of cannabis as a luxe product and wellness brand will change opinions in Hollywood. Until that normalization takes hold, it looks like the stars and the leaf won’t be uniting anytime soon.

Research Shows That Being Kind To Yourself Is Good For Your Health

Sometimes we tend to be our own worst critics, hating ourselves over the little things, like failing to go to the gym for the fifth day in a row. But research indicates that tough self-criticism can cause a lot of damage to our health, and that it’s best to be compassionate with ourselves for our mental and physical well being.

According to The Washington Post, self-compassion is key to leading a healthier life. Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, describes self-compassion as the balance of three factors: mindfulness, common humanity and self-kindness. These three terms refer to having awareness of your own negative thoughts and feelings without lingering on them, recognizing that we all have our shortcomings, and showing understanding for yourself when you do something wrong.

A study from 2017 says that people who have higher levels of self-compassion are capable of handling their stress better, letting go of things with more ease; this is a really good thing since chronic stress harms your life in all sorts of ways, by directly affecting your health and by exposing you to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

While it should be easy to be compassionate with yourself once in a while, it’s more complicated than it sounds. Self-compassionate people prioritize their long-term well being, valuing it over short term indulgences. So they’d rather take a walk in the sun instead of laying around watching TV all day. According to the study, these people have more perspective, which sometimes can be hard to find.

The article reports that in order to cultivate self-compassion, you must start with mindfulness, paying attention to your thoughts and patterns; observe them and notice if they’re critical, and cut yourself some slack. Take time to hang out with the people you love and create moments for yourself, like cooking a nourishing meal. A good workout can also do wonders for your health and self-care.

NFL Denies Player’s Request To Use Medical Marijuana

Mike James, a free agent professional running back, hoped to use medical marijuana to ease his pain rather than prescription painkillers. But this week, the NFL gave him his answer: No.

James, who was drafted in 2013 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has also played for the Detroit Lions, applied for a marijuana therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) from the league this offseason. He was upfront about his medicine of choice and wanted to make sure he was compliant with league rules. But the NFL denied his request, which now puts James’ career in jeopardy.

“I am hopeful that I’ll be able to keep playing football,” James told NJ.com. “It is a game that I love very dearly. I know right now I’m doing something that makes some people uncomfortable, and that I’m going against the establishment to push for a change in the way they look at this medicine. I know there’s a greater purpose here for a lot of guys in this league who I consider family members.”

James’ first NFL injury occurred in his rookie season in 2013, when he broke his ankle. Like all NFL players, he began popping pills for “pain like I had never experienced in my life.” The painkillers were prescribed by doctors and James developed a dependence to the drugs.

According to James, his drug addiction became a problem for his family. His wife, Aubrey, led him to give medical marijuana a try as an alternative, but James — whose father had a history of drug-related offenses — balked at the idea. “I didn’t want to believe the benefits,” he told NJ.com. “But at that point, I was in so much pain and going through a lot mentally with the demands in the game, I tried it. It gave me instant relief.”

Despite his uncertain career options, James says he will continue to use cannabis as a pain treatment and will evangelize about the benefits. And he has support from the medical community.

“Consuming a vast amount of opioids is far more dangerous than cannabis,” said Dr. Sue Sisley, James’ physician and a top cannabis researcher. “One is lethal in overdose. One is not. One has an epidemic in overdose deaths. One has no deaths associated with it.”

Seth Rogen Reveals How Weed Makes Him Creative

No matter how much you love your job there is work you simply don’t want to do. Paperwork, meetings, emails. Personally I’m a cliché journalist and loathe transcribing interviews, which is basically an annoying side quest to be completed before you’re allowed to embark on the main story. It is tough and sometime you need a push or a bit of help.  Seth Rogen reveals how weed makes him creative.

Related: Why Millennials Really Want To Work In The Cannabis Industry

It turns out even dream jobs include annoying parts or work you’d rather procrastinate too, as Seth Rogen revealed in a Vulture interview. Rogen was asked how marijuana and drugs inform his creative process, and he said that cannabis has often pushed him forward in getting the job done.

Via Vulture:

What I’ve found, more than anything, is that weed makes me willing to work. When I was young I found that a lot of people I knew were trudging through the workday. They were just waiting to go home so they could do what they really wanted to do and smoke weed. At some point I was just like, “If I smoke weed while I’m working, then I don’t have to do the trudging part.”

[…]

If I’m stoned I’ll happily work all day long. I don’t really smoke when I’m acting because I can tell I look stoned, but other than that, being high makes me more willing to spend ten hours doing something that could otherwise get laborious.

Though it isn’t his natural default setting, Rogen does find himself writing sober as well. For the comedian, “moments arise organically where I find myself sober but I never will be like, ‘I’m gonna write sober today.’ ”

Related: These 8 Celeb Moms Are Not Ashamed About Smoking Marijuana

Potentially the most eyebrow-raising moment of the interview was when Rogen admitted that “people still ask me if I smoke.” When interviewer David Marchese intimated that it’s a given Rogen is getting high with everyone all the time, the actor responded, “At this point, it should be.”

This ‘Smart Tooth’ Can Track Everything You Eat

How about instead of weighing our food and trying to figure out what a single serving size of potato chips is, we just have our mouths tell us? The future is here, kids, and it looks a lot like a diamond-studded tooth.

Engineers at Tufts University have developed an itty bitty tooth sensor that can track glucose, salt and alcohol, and wirelessly transmit the data to an electronic tracking device.

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The tiny sensor, which measures just 2 square millimeters, has three layers: a central “bio-responsive” layer that absorbs the nutrient and/or other chemicals to be detected, and two outer layers consisting of two square-shaped gold rings. “Together,” says Tufts, “the three layers act like a tiny antenna, collecting and transmitting waves in the radio-frequency spectrum.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYYmg-pF494

According to Tufts:

Previous wearable devices for monitoring dietary intake suffered from limitations such as requiring the use of a mouth guard, bulky wiring, or necessitating frequent replacement as the sensors rapidly degraded. Tufts engineers sought a more adoptable technology and developed a sensor with a mere 2mm x 2mm footprint that can flexibly conform and bond to the irregular surface of a tooth. In a similar fashion to the way a toll is collected on a highway, the sensors transmit their data wirelessly in response to an incoming radiofrequency signal.

Currently, the prototype is only sensitive to glucose, salt and alcohol, but researchers are working to develop a version that can detect a wider range of chemicals and nutrients.

“In theory we can modify the bioresponsive layer in these sensors to target other chemicals – we are really limited only by our creativity,” said Fiorenzo Omenetto, Ph.D., corresponding author and the Frank C. Doble Professor of Engineering at Tufts. “We have extended common RFID [radiofrequency ID] technology to a sensor package that can dynamically read and transmit information on its environment, whether it is affixed to a tooth, to skin, or any other surface.”

Coffee And Cannabis, Two Favorite Products In One Place

Let’s play a game of word association. When you think of Seattle, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? Other than “rain,” chances are many of you said “coffee” or “marijuana.”

Now, Cannabis and coffee, two favorite products in one place. It is a combination made famous in Seattle. Origins, a premium Seattle-based marijuana retailer, has blended the two popular mood boosters at its second location in Redmond, about 15 miles east of Seattle. The premier cannabis retail store opened its doors last year, now boasts the opening this week of Origins Coffee Roasters.

The new coffee shop, adjacent to the cannabis store, will brew only a selection of hand-picked beans from the best coffee regions of the world, including Ethiopia, Ecuador and the Hawaiian Islands. The lattes and other specialty drinks will be prepared using natural alternatives not found in many cafes. Infused organic honey simple syrup will be used instead of calorie-dense sugar. Milk options will include organic dairy and alternatives made from hemp, soy and almond. Origins also will feature its flagship macadamia milk, which gives the coffee a sweet, nutty flavor.

Coffee and cannabis in the same place!
Photo courtesy of Origins Coffee Roasters

“We want our customers to know exactly what goes into their beverage. So much of what is out there is high-glycemic, calorie-laden drinks designed to mask the flavor of over-roasted and low quality coffee,” said Sean Miller, owner of Origins Coffee Roasters. “We believe our customers deserve quality, natural ingredients. Coffee is a wonderfully complex and tasty product. Why mask it with inferior ingredients?”

In addition, Origins Coffee Roasters is partnering with local bakeries and confectionary companies to pair each drink with a tasty treat.  “The goal is to introduce our customers to a new way of thinking about coffee. For us, it’s not just an on-the-go beverage. It’s something meant to sip, experience and enjoy.”

Miller is excited to offer patrons at Origins a one-of-a-kind coffee delicacy: Organic and wild Kopi Luwak coffee, a bucket list item everyone needs to try.  These rare coffee beans are selected and eaten by Indonesian palm civet cats who have a special sense to select only the best beans. The whole beans are not digested, but instead are enhanced by the digestive enzymes in the animal and then collected by local farmers. Because of the unusual harvesting process, kopi luwak is the rarest – and priciest – coffee in the world.

“It certainly is not an everyday beverage, but we strive to offer the best-tasting coffee drinks coupled with unique experiences. We are also offering a free Kopi Luwak tasting for the first 100 customers on May 11th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Now is your chance to try coffee that sells for $40 a cup for free.”

Origins Coffee Roasters will offer three different beverage mediums: espresso, pour-over and French press. The espresso machines are made in Seattle by Mavam, makers of top-of-the-line devices that promise the first espresso system to consistently serve shots at a precise 200 degrees. The temperature-controlled, patent-pending functionality ensures consistency and perfectly pulls the flavor from the beans.

Photo courtesy of Origins Coffee Roasters

Why a café in the same building as a cannabis retail store? “Coffee and cannabis are similar in that they both are meant to bring people together,” Miller says. “We want our store to be a hub for the community and a place for people to meet. Our approach with all Origins companies is to focus on education and experiences. We will carry that mission of education and discovery to our café.”

Origins Coffee Roasters is located at 16390 Cleveland St., Redmond. The location is just a few blocks away from the city’s only outdoor mall – the Redmond Town Center – and is on the main bus route that runs through the town.

 

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